Easter Eggs

Pressing shift-open apple-Q reveals the two different modes 'Your Tour of the Apple IIGS' runs in: using the key combo shift-open apple-D, you change the mode to demo, which returns to the beginning of the tour, with its musical intro, effectively making an attract screen after 3 minutes of inactivity. The default mode is training, and can be toggled back on by shift-open apple-T.

Your Tour of the Apple IIGS was included with every Apple IIGS sold. It came in a black and white version between 1986 to 1988, after which it was replaced by a colour version.

Your Tour of the Apple IIGS is an excellent way to familiarise anyone with using our favourite Apple II computer.

In fact, it's a shame similar programs aren't still included for Windows and MacOS based computers today, because it's my belief that Microsoft and Apple both assume that all users are familiar with the importance of knowing what each of the components of a computer system are, appreciating why and how disks are formatted and other useful pointers to using graphical user interfaces and general use of personal computers. The fact is, despite 'advances' in personal computers since the last IIGS rolled off the assembly line in 1993, there is still a long way to go in terms of making computers accessible, more intuitive and non-threatening to all people.

My experience in graphic design education has shown me that many people are unaware of what and where a hard drive is, how and where data is stored, dragging and dropping and on the rare occasion, what a double click is. I should have just referred them to 'Your Tour of the Apple IIGS'.

The colour version of the program makes great use of IIGS graphics and the black and white version makes great use of double hi-res graphics, necessary to run on the original IIGS with only 256k of RAM. The sound and music are top notch. The only let down in the colour version is the loading time - though the program does warn you of the wait.

With a IIGS and 'Your Tour...' anyone can learn more about how to use computers than they can from any new computer with its included software.